Re: poly: something from Dyson

Brin quotes Dyson:

>We shall be playing God, but only as local deities and not as lords of
>the universe.

If FTL is possible, very large organizations may be possible, even "lords
of the universe". For diversity's sake, let's hope not.

>... The universe is large enough to provide ample living space for all
>of us. But if, as seems equally probable, we are alone in our galaxy ...

Alas, it's hard to see how there could ever be "enough" room for creatures
whose preferences are selected for in competitive growth processes. The
fact that there seems to be so much "room" (i.e., resources) out there is
the best evidence that we are likely alone, not just in our galaxy, but in
the whole damn visible universe.

Robin Hanson
hanson@econ.berkeley.edu http://hanson.berkeley.edu/
RWJF Health Policy Scholar, Sch. of Public Health 510-643-1884
140 Warren Hall, UC Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 FAX: 510-643-8614
Received on Thu Apr 30 21:49:25 1998